Going to Stake Conference (for non-LDS readers this is a regional meeting that in El Dorado County for example would include congregations from Pollock Pines to Cameron Park and from Georgetown to Grizzly Flats) involves a short drive and a couple of hours on Saturday evening followed by a couple of hours on Sunday for the final meeting. It is a whole different ball game here in Norway.
The distance is only 105 "driving miles" from Bergen to Stavanger but it also involves two ferry crossings.
The Ferries are fast and efficient but expensive - about $160 US total ferry cost for the trip.
But what a magnificent ride through the islands of western Norway..
We had plenty of room inside the ferries, just two short rides of about 40 and 20 minutes, with wonderful stuff to look at and the realization that every kilometer you float you don't have to drive.
On the route are ten tunnels that cover a distance of about 13 miles and include three long underwater stretches as deep as almost 300 feet below sea level! The tunnels are fantastic.
There were eight bridges that link the short distances between some of the islands. There are also toll roads that chalk up another $50 for the round trip.
Fish farms out in the fjord.
Driving down the street to the Stavanger chapel.
It was only a bit over 100 miles but the travel time was a little over 4 hours. We never stopped moving except for two very short ferry lines. With the round-abouts you can get lucky and not have to stop at all but the speed limits are very low. The fastest legal speed on this trip was 48mph.
The LDS meeting house in Stavanger.
The hall was eventually full with members from southern and western Norway and as far north as Trondheim. The conference was broadcast over the internet to groups of members in Bergen and Trondheim. Some of the speakers spoke from Trondheim via internet to the other two locations.
On Saturday afternoon the youth and young adult activity included a rainy walk in the forest that was also a kind of scavenger hunt.
After the evening general session of District Conference the youth groups from Stavanger Branch put on a Beatles tribute concert for about an hour.
They were fantastic with great arrangements of 13 Beatles classics.
The entire cast took the stage for "Hello - Good-Bye." We were so impressed with what they had put together in four weeks time.
The artwork included the Abbey Rd. backdrop as well as hand drawn pictures from the Sgt. Pepper's Era of the fab-four.
We spent the rest of Saturday night (until midnight) at the Bjerga's home where 45 years ago I used to visit with then Branch President Tomas Bjerga. Tomas is doing fine at age 90!
While the young single adults played the advisors put together a feast of natchos, brownies, ice cream etc. It is what we do best - feed people.
All of us who were visitors were placed in homes of members of the church around the city of Stavanger. We stayed with a wonderful family out on a little island north of town along with three other visitors and the family of six. Shanna and I took over one of the daughters' rooms. After a great breakfast we were off to the final session of conference.
Among our many surprises this weekend we met up with Emily Knudsen Berg - the daughter of Arvid and Laraine. I met Arvid in Norway back in 1968 when he was a teenager. Emily married Oskar last January and lives in Kristiansand. We also bumped into good old Brother Norby and the Limas whom I knew from my first time around in Stavanger. It was old home week for me.
About an hour after the final meeting ended people had said their goodbyes and one by one we all started back home. The bonds that people make in these districts with their far-flung branches are strong. There is such a feeling of happines as the visitors arrive for conference and a reluctance to say goodbye when Sunday afternoon rolls around that you can't help but feel the love even as a newcomer.
We are back in Bergen but looking forward to our next trip back to Distriks Konferanse in the spring.
That is a really pretty picture of mom on the ferry :) It seems like each post outdoes the one prior - I just can't get over the beauty of that place. And such pretty people. Distriks Konferanse sounds like a really cool event there. What fun. I wish I could have heard the Beatles tribute!
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